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Hostage of Empire #3
The Bloody Throne
"Intricate, elegant and sharp as a blade―sweeping political fantasy at its finest." ―Tasha Suri, author of The Jasmine Throne
A richly detailed epic of ambition, honor, and sacrifice, The Bloody Throne is the masterful conclusion to Hostage of Empire, a medieval East Asia-inspired fantasy trilogy.
The great Zhaon empire is in turmoil. The emperor is dead and the crown prince has fallen to hidden schemes, leaving the most dangerous prince to assume the throne. The imperial court is seething, and whispers of war grow to shouts. The once vanquished kingdom of Khir marches again to regain their honor, the savage Tabrak raid the borders after ravaging the South, and assassins lurk in the shadows seeking imperial favor.
Komor Yala, her position deeply uncertain, finds shelter in marriage to the cunning Third Prince―but there is little safety in Zhaon. Death and destruction mount as a blood-drenched summer ends, and to the victor will be left an empire—if it is not turned to smoking ruins first.
The wheel of destiny is turning, and all will be caught under its weight...
Praise for the Hostage of Empire:
"With a deliberate pace and fine attention to details of dress and custom, Emmett weaves a masterful tale of court intrigues." ―Booklist (starred review)
"Emmett’s worldbuilding is sophisticated and captivating." ―Publishers Weekly
"Action and intrigue takes place within a layered and beautifully realized fantasy world that will appeal to readers of K. Arsenault Rivera's The Tiger's Daughter."―B&N Sci-Fi & Fantasy Blog
Hostage of Empire
The Throne of the Five Winds
The Poison Prince
The Bloody Throne
A richly detailed epic of ambition, honor, and sacrifice, The Bloody Throne is the masterful conclusion to Hostage of Empire, a medieval East Asia-inspired fantasy trilogy.
The great Zhaon empire is in turmoil. The emperor is dead and the crown prince has fallen to hidden schemes, leaving the most dangerous prince to assume the throne. The imperial court is seething, and whispers of war grow to shouts. The once vanquished kingdom of Khir marches again to regain their honor, the savage Tabrak raid the borders after ravaging the South, and assassins lurk in the shadows seeking imperial favor.
Komor Yala, her position deeply uncertain, finds shelter in marriage to the cunning Third Prince―but there is little safety in Zhaon. Death and destruction mount as a blood-drenched summer ends, and to the victor will be left an empire—if it is not turned to smoking ruins first.
The wheel of destiny is turning, and all will be caught under its weight...
Praise for the Hostage of Empire:
"With a deliberate pace and fine attention to details of dress and custom, Emmett weaves a masterful tale of court intrigues." ―Booklist (starred review)
"Emmett’s worldbuilding is sophisticated and captivating." ―Publishers Weekly
"Action and intrigue takes place within a layered and beautifully realized fantasy world that will appeal to readers of K. Arsenault Rivera's The Tiger's Daughter."―B&N Sci-Fi & Fantasy Blog
Hostage of Empire
The Throne of the Five Winds
The Poison Prince
The Bloody Throne
617 pages, Paperback
First published March 29, 2022
26 people are currently reading
574 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 51 reviews
June 28, 2023
Two-and-a-half stars, rounded down. I'm disappointed with The Bloody Throne and though it didn't help that I (accidentally) came across a few spoilers, I struggled to finish each chapter. The third instalment had the same issues with pacing and plot as the previous two, but without the promise of a sequel to tie up loose ends. And there is too much for the novel to do, even at 600+ pages. The principal characters spend more time apart than together, so there is little opportunity to explore the tension between Yala, Takshin, and Kai. In addition to the interpersonal dynamics, the Tabrak only take shape as villains in the book's second half. Up to that point, we know little about them except that their cyclic attacks inspire disgust and anxiety across nations. There is some attempt to flesh out their motives, but if S.C. Emmett had expanded the series' scope to include the Pale Horde a little earlier rather than leave them as an 'off-screen' threat, I think it would've made for a stronger finale.
As it is, The Bloody Throne is meandering and relies on murder to give its political intrigue proper weight. It's a little hard to care about the implications for Zhaon after more than a dozen assassination attempts, quite a few of which succeed.
As it is, The Bloody Throne is meandering and relies on murder to give its political intrigue proper weight. It's a little hard to care about the implications for Zhaon after more than a dozen assassination attempts, quite a few of which succeed.
March 27, 2022
The Bloody Throne is the conclusion to one of the best political fantasy series I’ve read in ages, though I hesitate to label it as fantasy at all. This is set in a fictional world, has essentially no magic whatsoever, and is fantasy in the sense that many of Guy Gavriel Kay’s books (aside from Tigana and Fionavar) are fantasy. But oh my goodness, the court politics and subtle intrigue truly shine in this book! Plus, if you’ve ever wanted to read about the gory cruelty of a horde of “barbarians” or the backstabbing tendencies of royal siblings this totally has you covered.
Komor Yala is alone in Zhaon yet she still searches for the hand behind the death of her beloved princess Mahara. With Zakkar Kai returned to the Northern Army, her only protection is her engagement and impending wedding to the surliest of princes, Third Prince Takshin, and even that may not be enough when the newly anointed Emperor Kurin begins cleaning house. Knives in the dark, poisonings, and the ever looming threat of the Pale Horde have the royal family of Zhaon in turmoil as Zhaon itself suffers.
Yala remains a sympathetic and strong character, and though she isn’t a traditional badass fantasy heroine it’s impressive to see her small rebellions and intelligent moves she makes within the bounds of her societal role. Her skill with her yue blade and horses do make her stand out from the Zhaon ladies at court, though those are simply skills all Khir girls are taught. I appreciate that so many other perspectives are thrown into the mix, as it gives so much insight to events that might otherwise be mentioned in passing. A brief chapter is given to an assassin who just wants to leave the city with his beloved, several chapters are given to the First Queen’s maid Yona, and a few to a slave in the Pale Horde.
I greatly enjoyed the rather proper, courtly romance between Zakkar Kai and Yala and was quite sad they were separated during this final installment but it was lovely to see Takshin admire Yala so caringly. I honestly hated rooting for either Takshin or Kai because I liked both of them for different reasons and loved the respect and care they showed to Yala!
The ending was bittersweet yet satisfying and thoroughly wrapped up the tale. This could be considered spoilery, but MAN I felt so bad for Takshin at the end. Poor guy :( Overall, this was an amazing conclusion to the series. These aren’t exactly fast paced books, and I took my time up until Friday night when I stayed up until midnight finishing the story because I really, really didn’t want to put it down. So much of the actual action was saved for the concluding third of the book as so many events came to a boil and it was awesome!
Komor Yala is alone in Zhaon yet she still searches for the hand behind the death of her beloved princess Mahara. With Zakkar Kai returned to the Northern Army, her only protection is her engagement and impending wedding to the surliest of princes, Third Prince Takshin, and even that may not be enough when the newly anointed Emperor Kurin begins cleaning house. Knives in the dark, poisonings, and the ever looming threat of the Pale Horde have the royal family of Zhaon in turmoil as Zhaon itself suffers.
Yala remains a sympathetic and strong character, and though she isn’t a traditional badass fantasy heroine it’s impressive to see her small rebellions and intelligent moves she makes within the bounds of her societal role. Her skill with her yue blade and horses do make her stand out from the Zhaon ladies at court, though those are simply skills all Khir girls are taught. I appreciate that so many other perspectives are thrown into the mix, as it gives so much insight to events that might otherwise be mentioned in passing. A brief chapter is given to an assassin who just wants to leave the city with his beloved, several chapters are given to the First Queen’s maid Yona, and a few to a slave in the Pale Horde.
I greatly enjoyed the rather proper, courtly romance between Zakkar Kai and Yala and was quite sad they were separated during this final installment but it was lovely to see Takshin admire Yala so caringly. I honestly hated rooting for either Takshin or Kai because I liked both of them for different reasons and loved the respect and care they showed to Yala!
The ending was bittersweet yet satisfying and thoroughly wrapped up the tale. This could be considered spoilery, but MAN I felt so bad for Takshin at the end. Poor guy :( Overall, this was an amazing conclusion to the series. These aren’t exactly fast paced books, and I took my time up until Friday night when I stayed up until midnight finishing the story because I really, really didn’t want to put it down. So much of the actual action was saved for the concluding third of the book as so many events came to a boil and it was awesome!
January 11, 2022
This conclusion to the Hostage of Empire trilogy certainly lives up to its title. From bloody battlefields to quiet tea-tables, all and sundry battle for power in and beyond mighty Zhaon-An, and let's just say the knives are *very* much out. I don't think it's too spoilery to say that not everyone makes it out alive.
It's difficult to review the final book in a trilogy with any real specificity without falling into spoiler-land, and as with all trilogies, no reader should begin with this installment. We pick up with the fallout of certain events at the end of the previous book, as the Tabrak invasion reaches its inevitably bloody climax, Komor Yala's love . . . quadrangle? (Is that right?) Well, *that* plays out in ways both expected and unexpected. And we get some new POVs (in addition to our current plethora) which add texture and nuance to the events we saw in the previous two books.
But on that note: for a trilogy as long and complex as this one, I was surprised at how . . . rushed? certain things felt. I wish we'd spent much more time in Shan, for example, dealing with their court politics. The Tabrak, too, finally get a couple of POVs here, and I found myself thinking that they probably should have appeared in book 1, or at least book 2; it felt, again, *rushed* to finally see the enemy here, rather than let that part of the storyline breathe a bit more. And certain characters' endings felt like they needed extra chapters to really play out properly, which is kind of insane given how long this book already was.
Did I ultimately find the ending satisfying? That's a difficult question. I gave this four stars because, like its predecessors, it has all the backbiting and scheming a court politics junkie could desire. And the overwhelming majority of the book I adored. But like I said, some characters' endings seemed a bit . . . abrupt. And . . . without being too spoilery, there's a development right at the end that would've had me throwing my book across the room had I been reading a paper book rather than on an expensive piece of machinery. Two characters get an ending that I was clearly supposed to find satisfying, that I was clearly supposed to root for, but which I felt was out of character for both. (And this probably goes to the rushed pacing; there were hints we were going down this path, but they were so few and so late that they didn't feel like enough to counterweigh all the character development prior that rendered this ending, I thought, out of character.)
But that's ultimately a personal preference, and I can see how others might disagree. Overall, if you enjoy your fantasy heavy on the court politics, I'd say this trilogy is absolutely for you.
I received a free copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
It's difficult to review the final book in a trilogy with any real specificity without falling into spoiler-land, and as with all trilogies, no reader should begin with this installment. We pick up with the fallout of certain events at the end of the previous book, as the Tabrak invasion reaches its inevitably bloody climax, Komor Yala's love . . . quadrangle? (Is that right?) Well, *that* plays out in ways both expected and unexpected. And we get some new POVs (in addition to our current plethora) which add texture and nuance to the events we saw in the previous two books.
But on that note: for a trilogy as long and complex as this one, I was surprised at how . . . rushed? certain things felt. I wish we'd spent much more time in Shan, for example, dealing with their court politics. The Tabrak, too, finally get a couple of POVs here, and I found myself thinking that they probably should have appeared in book 1, or at least book 2; it felt, again, *rushed* to finally see the enemy here, rather than let that part of the storyline breathe a bit more. And certain characters' endings felt like they needed extra chapters to really play out properly, which is kind of insane given how long this book already was.
Did I ultimately find the ending satisfying? That's a difficult question. I gave this four stars because, like its predecessors, it has all the backbiting and scheming a court politics junkie could desire. And the overwhelming majority of the book I adored. But like I said, some characters' endings seemed a bit . . . abrupt. And . . . without being too spoilery, there's a development right at the end that would've had me throwing my book across the room had I been reading a paper book rather than on an expensive piece of machinery. Two characters get an ending that I was clearly supposed to find satisfying, that I was clearly supposed to root for, but which I felt was out of character for both. (And this probably goes to the rushed pacing; there were hints we were going down this path, but they were so few and so late that they didn't feel like enough to counterweigh all the character development prior that rendered this ending, I thought, out of character.)
But that's ultimately a personal preference, and I can see how others might disagree. Overall, if you enjoy your fantasy heavy on the court politics, I'd say this trilogy is absolutely for you.
I received a free copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
March 19, 2022
Great finish, definitely nails the landing. Although it's a much more things-happening sort of book (death and arson and war, oh my) the author keeps the pacing delicate and implacable, and the intricate-detail passages are absolutely fraught with tension because of it. I was extremely satisfied with how all the emotional arcs turned out, even though there had been such complexity to them.
I have many thoughts that are full of spoilers!
Honestly, my only complaint is the number of ladies who die at their own hands. Yikes! (Like, don't get me wrong, plenty of men die too, this book has a high body count, but not the same way.) I was also slightly perplexed at the sudden inclusion of "lightfoot" wuxia-esque shenanigans - I mean, on brand, but why only showing up now? (Or was it there and I just don't remember?) I thought it was maybe a thing only Jin could do and he just hadn't been telling anyone about it, but then all the princes seemed to have it, so...
I have many thoughts that are full of spoilers!
Honestly, my only complaint is the number of ladies who die at their own hands. Yikes! (Like, don't get me wrong, plenty of men die too, this book has a high body count, but not the same way.) I was also slightly perplexed at the sudden inclusion of "lightfoot" wuxia-esque shenanigans - I mean, on brand, but why only showing up now? (Or was it there and I just don't remember?) I thought it was maybe a thing only Jin could do and he just hadn't been telling anyone about it, but then all the princes seemed to have it, so...
April 3, 2022
This trilogy is basically people killing each other to become Emperor.
I liked all the twists and turns. The world building details were very intricate (turn your teacup for luck, wear different hair pins to indicate mood or mourning).
My main problem with this series is the closed door love scenes. When characters are finally intimate, you get...nothing. No details.
I'm going to summarize the plot below, so huge spoilers.
SPOIELR SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
At the end of book 1, Komor Yala's princess and best friend (Mahara) is murdered. Her country, Khir, sends soldiers to the border and it looks like war. Nobody knows who killed her.
It turns out the killer is Mahara's half brother (who never met her because he was a bastard son of the Great Rider of Khir). Yala knows him because he and her brother were friends. He tells Yala in this book, he liked her brother but he really visited so often to see Yala. Yala didn't know.
He tries to convince Yala to run away with him and return to Khir. Yala is scheduled to be married and says she can't leave because she needs to find the murderer. Not knowing the murderer is right in front of her. Yala tells the other Khir where to find him so they can force him to go home and rule Khir. He is angry and plans to return for her. He tells her I don't care if 100 men have had you, I still want you.
Mahara's husband was murdered and on his deathbed he endorsed the marriage of Yala to his brother Takshin. Takshin has loved Yala a while and even interfered after she was supposed to be whipped for bringing a weapon into the emperor's presence without permission. He stopped the whipping and took the whip for her so he has a scar on his back from saving her. Yala does not love him. She loves Zakkar Kai, his brother and the general of the empire. Nobody knows this.
Zakkar Kai also loves Yala but had never told her. He writes a letter from the front lines and says he left everything in his will to her and he wishes he had not stayed silent. In other words, he wishes he had told her he loved her because she married his brother.
Yala always loved Zakkar Kai but also never said anything. She's married to his brother so now it's too late. Also Yala is pregnant with Takshin's child.
Takshin is adopted by the Shan (neighbors) so he cannot inherit the throne. So Yala should be safe from people trying to use her as she is his wife. Yala points out he is gentle and gives her anything she wants (like visits to the theater or inviting his youngest brother Jin to dinner) so she should be satisfied with her life.
Jin finds papers from Takshin hidden away. They are written in Khir so he brings them to Yala to translate. Takshin betrayed her. He knew all along who killed her princess Mahara. He has bills showing the bastard son of Khir bought the arrows that killed Mahara. He never told Yala even though he promised to help her find the killer. He did tell her he thought it was a Khir. He lied to her over and over. Also in the papers are a 2nd marriage endorsement from the next brother who would have become emperor after his older brother was killed. So he also lied to Yala that it was his dying brother (Mahara's husband's wish) that they get married so she will be protected. He wanted the marriage all along and asked his brother to grant it before he died.
So Yala finds out Takshin is a huge liar. And she's carrying his child and married to him. She is devastated she let the murderer of Mahara go back to Khir.
Meanwhile, Sabi (sister of the emperor) threw herself off of the walls in Shan to prevent herself from being raped by the invading Tabrak. Her handmaiden escaped and has to tell the King she failed to protect his wife. Handmaiden is given a marriage offer by one of the Shan and she accepts happily. He says even if he dies in battle she'll be taken care of. He lives at the end of the book.
Takshin is sent to Shan to help fight the Tabrak. The empire is now fighting Khir and Tabrak and army is stretched thin.
Zakkar Kai runs into the bastard son of the Great Rider and takes him prisoner (not knowing it's him). He figures it out eventually and they force a truce on Khir and they team up to fight the Tabrak.
Meanwhile, Fifth Prince Senshen murders his brother after claiming he tried to poison his mother. A voice says Mother Don't Drink and people think Heaven warned him. He actually hired an assassin to do it. The assassins send the guy away with his girlfriend because emperor wanted the assassin killed. They said unlike emperors, they don't kill their brothers.
Fifth Prince Senshen dies while trying to flee the Tabrak. (The previous emperor sent Fourth prince, the scholar to the front lines to fight and die. On purpose after Fourth Prince beat him at weapon's practice. His intended bride then hangs herself so they can be together).
The Tabrak break the walls and invade the Zhaon. Yala is trying to rescue the princess Gamnae and Gamnae's mother who was poisoned. She pulls out her knife (her yue) and tells them all to run to Mrong Bahn's (the astrologer's tower). She holds off the Tabrak but is about to be killed when her faithful handmaiden Anh starts throwing rocks at the Tabrak.
Zakkar Kai finally finds Yala, injured. He takes Yala and Anh outside the walls secretly. When Yala wakes up he tells her he loves her and wants to run away with her. He's sick of being a general and fighting wars. Zakkar Kai is adopted so considered a prince but he was an orphan. Yala agrees to run away with him. She says she did her duty all her life and where has it gotten her?
They take a ship and go to another country. (Bastard son of the great rider died on the battlefield fighting the leader of the Tabrak).
So now Jin (Sixth Prince) is Emperor. Takshin survived and found Yala's knife (yue) and believes her to be dead. He is devastated.
Yala is expecting Takshin's child and Zakkar Kai is excited to be a father (he knows the baby is his brother's).
Gamnae (the last princess) is scheduled to marry the King of Shan (like her sister Sabi did before she killed herself).
I liked all the twists and turns. The world building details were very intricate (turn your teacup for luck, wear different hair pins to indicate mood or mourning).
My main problem with this series is the closed door love scenes. When characters are finally intimate, you get...nothing. No details.
I'm going to summarize the plot below, so huge spoilers.
SPOIELR SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
At the end of book 1, Komor Yala's princess and best friend (Mahara) is murdered. Her country, Khir, sends soldiers to the border and it looks like war. Nobody knows who killed her.
It turns out the killer is Mahara's half brother (who never met her because he was a bastard son of the Great Rider of Khir). Yala knows him because he and her brother were friends. He tells Yala in this book, he liked her brother but he really visited so often to see Yala. Yala didn't know.
He tries to convince Yala to run away with him and return to Khir. Yala is scheduled to be married and says she can't leave because she needs to find the murderer. Not knowing the murderer is right in front of her. Yala tells the other Khir where to find him so they can force him to go home and rule Khir. He is angry and plans to return for her. He tells her I don't care if 100 men have had you, I still want you.
Mahara's husband was murdered and on his deathbed he endorsed the marriage of Yala to his brother Takshin. Takshin has loved Yala a while and even interfered after she was supposed to be whipped for bringing a weapon into the emperor's presence without permission. He stopped the whipping and took the whip for her so he has a scar on his back from saving her. Yala does not love him. She loves Zakkar Kai, his brother and the general of the empire. Nobody knows this.
Zakkar Kai also loves Yala but had never told her. He writes a letter from the front lines and says he left everything in his will to her and he wishes he had not stayed silent. In other words, he wishes he had told her he loved her because she married his brother.
Yala always loved Zakkar Kai but also never said anything. She's married to his brother so now it's too late. Also Yala is pregnant with Takshin's child.
Takshin is adopted by the Shan (neighbors) so he cannot inherit the throne. So Yala should be safe from people trying to use her as she is his wife. Yala points out he is gentle and gives her anything she wants (like visits to the theater or inviting his youngest brother Jin to dinner) so she should be satisfied with her life.
Jin finds papers from Takshin hidden away. They are written in Khir so he brings them to Yala to translate. Takshin betrayed her. He knew all along who killed her princess Mahara. He has bills showing the bastard son of Khir bought the arrows that killed Mahara. He never told Yala even though he promised to help her find the killer. He did tell her he thought it was a Khir. He lied to her over and over. Also in the papers are a 2nd marriage endorsement from the next brother who would have become emperor after his older brother was killed. So he also lied to Yala that it was his dying brother (Mahara's husband's wish) that they get married so she will be protected. He wanted the marriage all along and asked his brother to grant it before he died.
So Yala finds out Takshin is a huge liar. And she's carrying his child and married to him. She is devastated she let the murderer of Mahara go back to Khir.
Meanwhile, Sabi (sister of the emperor) threw herself off of the walls in Shan to prevent herself from being raped by the invading Tabrak. Her handmaiden escaped and has to tell the King she failed to protect his wife. Handmaiden is given a marriage offer by one of the Shan and she accepts happily. He says even if he dies in battle she'll be taken care of. He lives at the end of the book.
Takshin is sent to Shan to help fight the Tabrak. The empire is now fighting Khir and Tabrak and army is stretched thin.
Zakkar Kai runs into the bastard son of the Great Rider and takes him prisoner (not knowing it's him). He figures it out eventually and they force a truce on Khir and they team up to fight the Tabrak.
Meanwhile, Fifth Prince Senshen murders his brother after claiming he tried to poison his mother. A voice says Mother Don't Drink and people think Heaven warned him. He actually hired an assassin to do it. The assassins send the guy away with his girlfriend because emperor wanted the assassin killed. They said unlike emperors, they don't kill their brothers.
Fifth Prince Senshen dies while trying to flee the Tabrak. (The previous emperor sent Fourth prince, the scholar to the front lines to fight and die. On purpose after Fourth Prince beat him at weapon's practice. His intended bride then hangs herself so they can be together).
The Tabrak break the walls and invade the Zhaon. Yala is trying to rescue the princess Gamnae and Gamnae's mother who was poisoned. She pulls out her knife (her yue) and tells them all to run to Mrong Bahn's (the astrologer's tower). She holds off the Tabrak but is about to be killed when her faithful handmaiden Anh starts throwing rocks at the Tabrak.
Zakkar Kai finally finds Yala, injured. He takes Yala and Anh outside the walls secretly. When Yala wakes up he tells her he loves her and wants to run away with her. He's sick of being a general and fighting wars. Zakkar Kai is adopted so considered a prince but he was an orphan. Yala agrees to run away with him. She says she did her duty all her life and where has it gotten her?
They take a ship and go to another country. (Bastard son of the great rider died on the battlefield fighting the leader of the Tabrak).
So now Jin (Sixth Prince) is Emperor. Takshin survived and found Yala's knife (yue) and believes her to be dead. He is devastated.
Yala is expecting Takshin's child and Zakkar Kai is excited to be a father (he knows the baby is his brother's).
Gamnae (the last princess) is scheduled to marry the King of Shan (like her sister Sabi did before she killed herself).
April 1, 2022
I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
"The Bloody Throne" is the third and final installment in the Hostage of the Empire trilogy. Being the conclusion, it poses quite a challenge in terms of a review, as I will have to do my utmost to avoid specific spoilers. As with any book series, though, I am going to assume that no reader would pick up the final book in the series (you really should not in this case!).
The novel picks up where we left off in the previous book, new emperor sitting on the throne, and an invasion threatening the great Zhaon empire. The story is constructed much in the same way as previous installments, told through multiple POVs, and giving a very intimate look into the inner goings-on of an imperial court. Quite a number of new POVs are added in "The Bloody Throne," some providing welcome expansion of understanding, but others causing this reader frustration. These points of view, while very interesting, feel "too little too late," giving us glimpses into goings on in Shan, or among the Tabrak Horde, but I could not help but wish that they had been introduced earlier, and at much larger scale/frequency. Yes, the books are already quite long, but I would have preferred limiting some of the POVs in Zhaon and instead giving us a greater understanding of the situation in Khir, Shan, and with the Horde. Instead, they felt like an afterthought.
Pacing is another issue I could not help but bemoan. Once again, things go on at a languid rate, only to explode into a frenzy of backstabbings, killings, war. As a result, the military conflict between Khir, Zhaon, and Tabrak feels incredibly rushed, and ill-informed (due to limited, happenstance POVs).
I have to admit, I was less than satisfied with the conclusions of many of the characters' storylines. On the surface, two of them receive a "fairytale ending," as if the author expected the reader to root for them the entire time, but I am one of many who did not feel that way. In fact, I found their choice very much so out of character, not to mention that another character was, in my opinion, treated quite unfairly in the fall out. I have to say that perhaps the ending would make more sense if the reader was clear on who-did-what-and-why, but the story left me very much confused on the motivations and actual deeds of several characters, especially regarding the death of a certain Khir princess.
And yes, despite all that, "Hostage of the Empire" is still the best political fantasy I have ever read. The court politics, with their backstabbing, outmaneuvering, scheming, nay, savagery!, were a wonder to behold, and Komor Yala one of the best heroines written into such circumstances. If you're a court politics junkie, or Asian imperial history aficionado, you will absolutely love this series.
"The Bloody Throne" is the third and final installment in the Hostage of the Empire trilogy. Being the conclusion, it poses quite a challenge in terms of a review, as I will have to do my utmost to avoid specific spoilers. As with any book series, though, I am going to assume that no reader would pick up the final book in the series (you really should not in this case!).
The novel picks up where we left off in the previous book, new emperor sitting on the throne, and an invasion threatening the great Zhaon empire. The story is constructed much in the same way as previous installments, told through multiple POVs, and giving a very intimate look into the inner goings-on of an imperial court. Quite a number of new POVs are added in "The Bloody Throne," some providing welcome expansion of understanding, but others causing this reader frustration. These points of view, while very interesting, feel "too little too late," giving us glimpses into goings on in Shan, or among the Tabrak Horde, but I could not help but wish that they had been introduced earlier, and at much larger scale/frequency. Yes, the books are already quite long, but I would have preferred limiting some of the POVs in Zhaon and instead giving us a greater understanding of the situation in Khir, Shan, and with the Horde. Instead, they felt like an afterthought.
Pacing is another issue I could not help but bemoan. Once again, things go on at a languid rate, only to explode into a frenzy of backstabbings, killings, war. As a result, the military conflict between Khir, Zhaon, and Tabrak feels incredibly rushed, and ill-informed (due to limited, happenstance POVs).
I have to admit, I was less than satisfied with the conclusions of many of the characters' storylines. On the surface, two of them receive a "fairytale ending," as if the author expected the reader to root for them the entire time, but I am one of many who did not feel that way. In fact, I found their choice very much so out of character, not to mention that another character was, in my opinion, treated quite unfairly in the fall out. I have to say that perhaps the ending would make more sense if the reader was clear on who-did-what-and-why, but the story left me very much confused on the motivations and actual deeds of several characters, especially regarding the death of a certain Khir princess.
And yes, despite all that, "Hostage of the Empire" is still the best political fantasy I have ever read. The court politics, with their backstabbing, outmaneuvering, scheming, nay, savagery!, were a wonder to behold, and Komor Yala one of the best heroines written into such circumstances. If you're a court politics junkie, or Asian imperial history aficionado, you will absolutely love this series.
January 21, 2022
I both loved and was disappointed by The Bloody Throne. I have really enjoyed the trilogy; political intrigue and good characterization go a long way with me. As others have said, about this book and the 2nd in the series, the pacing is really off. Nothing happens for ages and then suddenly everything happens at once.
The new POVs were fascinating, but part of me really wished we'd seen some of these in the earlier books as it would have explained what was going on with, for example, the Tabrak. They were merely an off-camera threat for most of the trilogy but they play a pretty big part in the conclusion, so having that background into their motivation would have enriched the story. Same with Shan - we meet up with some of the characters from book 2 who just fade away again. And on a personal note, I was dismayed to come across the expression "head-meat" in the first or second chapter. That's a phrase that the author is a little over fond of.
I am apparently someone who needs closure. I really wanted some scenes to happen that didn't. For example
On the whole I really enjoyed the entire trilogy - the world they inhabited, all the court intrigue and politics were so engrossing - and the conclusion was if not entirely satisfying, definitely acceptable.
I received a copy of this from NetGalley in exchange for my review.
The new POVs were fascinating, but part of me really wished we'd seen some of these in the earlier books as it would have explained what was going on with, for example, the Tabrak. They were merely an off-camera threat for most of the trilogy but they play a pretty big part in the conclusion, so having that background into their motivation would have enriched the story. Same with Shan - we meet up with some of the characters from book 2 who just fade away again. And on a personal note, I was dismayed to come across the expression "head-meat" in the first or second chapter. That's a phrase that the author is a little over fond of.
I am apparently someone who needs closure. I really wanted some scenes to happen that didn't. For example
On the whole I really enjoyed the entire trilogy - the world they inhabited, all the court intrigue and politics were so engrossing - and the conclusion was if not entirely satisfying, definitely acceptable.
I received a copy of this from NetGalley in exchange for my review.
July 5, 2023
this wasn't just disappointing in many regards it also didn't make sense and left me wondering why the author needed two books to set this conclusion up when almost none of it seemed to matter in the end - for neither worldbuilding nor character development
August 25, 2022
That was a long read, that I began to lose interest in. But mostly for the fact that the characters were separated for much of this final book And It was very apparent how the story would eventually end.
But I am satisfied with the characters, the world, and the writing of this entire series.
But I am satisfied with the characters, the world, and the writing of this entire series.
April 10, 2022
This powerful, action-filled, and bloody conclusion to the Hostage to The Empire series rivets the reader's attention to the last sentence. I am eagerly looking forward from more fantasy from the author.
May 13, 2024
I enjoyed this finale but some of the plotlines aren't resolved in a satisfactory way . It's a bit of a disappointment after two books of anticipation.
Interesting fantasy with strong worldbuilding and characterization, though .
Interesting fantasy with strong worldbuilding and characterization, though .
dnf
March 28, 2022Release Date: 3.29.2022
Review Date: 3.28.2022
I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Opinions are my own.
I don't usually like to review books that I dnf so this will probably be the most difficult one I've ever written. After the first book, The Throne of the Five Winds was my absolute favorite book of 2020 this was my most anticipated book of this year for sure. My disappointment is immeasurable over the fact that I couldn't finish it even to find out the ending.
This will definitely be spoilery so be warned.
I'm just gonna be up front and say that I know that loving the scarred, male characters with a tragic backstory is probably not healthy. But that's how I be. Takshin was my favorite character in this series and the fact that I knew as I was reading that he was gonna end up unhappy because his wife left him for someone that he thought of as a friend was ruining any possible enjoyment I might have had. I also thought that the authors writing style for him as a character was different in this one from the previous two books in the series. I felt like she was trying to make us dislike him this time around, like she was trying to make him a "villain" so that we would be okay with the way it was gonna end. I read a few spoiler reviews and she even seemingly out of nowhere whips out the fact that he had some "part" in Mahara's death in the first book. Like what?
I will say that it wasn't just the Takshin situation that I wasn't enjoying. All of the things I liked about the first book were annoying this time around. The overly descriptive writing that I didn't mind so much about the first one was completely unnecessary. I mean spit it out.
And the scheming wasn't as good in this one either.
I think if this book had been a few hundred pages shorter I might have finished it. I would have hate finished it but I would have finished it.
Review Date: 3.28.2022
I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Opinions are my own.
I don't usually like to review books that I dnf so this will probably be the most difficult one I've ever written. After the first book, The Throne of the Five Winds was my absolute favorite book of 2020 this was my most anticipated book of this year for sure. My disappointment is immeasurable over the fact that I couldn't finish it even to find out the ending.
This will definitely be spoilery so be warned.
I'm just gonna be up front and say that I know that loving the scarred, male characters with a tragic backstory is probably not healthy. But that's how I be. Takshin was my favorite character in this series and the fact that I knew as I was reading that he was gonna end up unhappy because his wife left him for someone that he thought of as a friend was ruining any possible enjoyment I might have had. I also thought that the authors writing style for him as a character was different in this one from the previous two books in the series. I felt like she was trying to make us dislike him this time around, like she was trying to make him a "villain" so that we would be okay with the way it was gonna end. I read a few spoiler reviews and she even seemingly out of nowhere whips out the fact that he had some "part" in Mahara's death in the first book. Like what?
I will say that it wasn't just the Takshin situation that I wasn't enjoying. All of the things I liked about the first book were annoying this time around. The overly descriptive writing that I didn't mind so much about the first one was completely unnecessary. I mean spit it out.
And the scheming wasn't as good in this one either.
I think if this book had been a few hundred pages shorter I might have finished it. I would have hate finished it but I would have finished it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 25, 2022
Enjoyed this thoroughly as I have the other two books however a few issues come to mind. One, the narrative appears not to know how to wrap up the majority of its plot lines, its a bit ridiculous at this point to have every loose end of a character murdered or left to kill themselves. It's very convenient and not very satisfying for the reader. Two, the ending with Yala and Kai seems to go against their characters personalities. I understand a key part of Yalas journey is wrestling between duty and her heart, but this is literally the first thing she's done that isn't bound by duty and it's very extreme. I can't help but feel sorry for all her friends at the Palace (and Takshin!!!) believing she is dead, it seems uncharacteristically cruel. Thirdly, I have to say I was expecting so much more from Makar, I was sure for someone who protested so loudly and frequently that he didn't want the throne, and took great pains to be smart, he would have something a lot more intelligent up his sleeve than just... Doing what he was told and being sent to die. Anyway, those were my main problems, the detail, description etc were all amazing but the narrative in this book was fairly unsatisfying in my personal opinion, and could have done with some strengthening.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 23, 2022
SPOILERS
Sadly, a bit of a disappointment after the first two books though many of the good things (worldbuilding, characterisation, Yala) are still there.
I had reservations similar to other reviewers -
1) too late an introduction to the Shan and Horde stories and related - thin pov characters
2) the ending! Poor Thaksin.
3) a sense that the action was too spasmodic and not well prepared. For instance, I was disappointed that Kurin died in such an implausible way. Why was he not protected by the Golden when he was rushed?
Also: I wanted Maki to return and become Emperor!
Maybe it was the pressure of writing during the pandemic and I hope the author gives us some more stories from Zhaon and its world, perhaps more tight plotted and shorter. Novellas?
And I would love to know about Yala and Kai's further adventures. I feel sure their destiny doesn't lie in living a quiet life.
Sadly, a bit of a disappointment after the first two books though many of the good things (worldbuilding, characterisation, Yala) are still there.
I had reservations similar to other reviewers -
1) too late an introduction to the Shan and Horde stories and related - thin pov characters
2) the ending! Poor Thaksin.
3) a sense that the action was too spasmodic and not well prepared. For instance, I was disappointed that Kurin died in such an implausible way. Why was he not protected by the Golden when he was rushed?
Also: I wanted Maki to return and become Emperor!
Maybe it was the pressure of writing during the pandemic and I hope the author gives us some more stories from Zhaon and its world, perhaps more tight plotted and shorter. Novellas?
And I would love to know about Yala and Kai's further adventures. I feel sure their destiny doesn't lie in living a quiet life.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 4, 2023
One thing I am genuinely CURIOUS about is how S.C Emmett knows all these words? Who told her about them? Does she read the dictionary for fun? Is there some exclusive writing club where everyone gets 200 of the most obscure (but correctly applied) words to riddle their stories with? Frankly, I felt a little stupid, and honestly I think you should too hence why I will include 20 of the words I had to highlight so we can all feel stupid together. And of course we will have no one but S.C Emmett to blame when I start using words like importunate in my daily language.
The only reasonable thing I hated about this series was the amount of perspectives. To be clear, as many may be aware (because I never stop saying how much I disdain multi-perspectives in my reviews) I would never proclaim to be an ardent lover of multiple perspectives, however I think they may be growing on me. But, I have my limits ☝🏾and the amount of perspectives in the penultimate books of this series were, if not overzealous, a bit pick me.
E V E R Y O N E had a chapter. And even worse that annoying thing in which 3 characters were doing something interesting yet all the consequent chapters revolved around some absolute nobody, occurred. And if you cannot tell: I HATED that. If someone has just been stabbed why on earth do I care what some random bathmaiden is doing?!?
I guess onto more relevant stuff such as the prose, character settings— y’know things not clouded by my own bias and hate of MPOV’s. And on that end the prose was singularly remarkable in the use of superfluous words. *see first part of review*
On another note however, I really liked the characters, this hasn’t changed— though mind you— all the men were a little insufferable in that they each, and I do mean each, at one point express that they will take their love interest by force if it comes to that… though of course they don’t WANT to— but like if she does something crazy like say no, they might HAVE to. I don’t really understand why them having this relationship with women, that quite frankly was akin to commodification was necessary, if the guys the MC (and atp I don’t even KNOW if Yala is the MC— that is another problem I had.) didn’t end up with had these sentiments to differentiate themselves from the guy she does I’d understand. However, they were all pretty consistent in believing they had complete utter ownership of her, which is befuddling to say the least.
Before I lose that train of thought, and this is a minor aside, I found it not annoying but misleading that the synopsis of the series on the whole makes Yala seem like a more central figure than she is. Quite frankly with all the POV’s I’d wager she’s 30% of the story, which is rather unfortunate because I quite liked her. I probably would’ve liked her more too if I got more chapters with her 🙂
And if you’re curious about the setting don’t fret, it was given the diligence that any fantasy story is owed. Wholly three-dimensional and feasible. The customs and language seem to sink into your head and establish itself into existence. Which as a reader is exactly what we look for so kudos for that.
3.5 ✨ because it was a little laborious in the middle, but still an engrossing read.
NOW for the promised 20 words that evaded me:
1. Adroitly
2. Succour
3. Internecine
4. Somnolence
5. Importunate
6. Parsimoniousness
7. Salutary
8. Politesse
9. Querulous
10. Remonstrance
11. Sententious
12. Mien
13. Alacrity
14. Effluvia
15. Evinced
16. Diaphanous
17. Intimation
18. Toothsome
19. Putative
20. Ameliorate
** if you know these words don’t be rude and brag, instead pls feign ignorance to spare my pride 🫡
The only reasonable thing I hated about this series was the amount of perspectives. To be clear, as many may be aware (because I never stop saying how much I disdain multi-perspectives in my reviews) I would never proclaim to be an ardent lover of multiple perspectives, however I think they may be growing on me. But, I have my limits ☝🏾and the amount of perspectives in the penultimate books of this series were, if not overzealous, a bit pick me.
E V E R Y O N E had a chapter. And even worse that annoying thing in which 3 characters were doing something interesting yet all the consequent chapters revolved around some absolute nobody, occurred. And if you cannot tell: I HATED that. If someone has just been stabbed why on earth do I care what some random bathmaiden is doing?!?
I guess onto more relevant stuff such as the prose, character settings— y’know things not clouded by my own bias and hate of MPOV’s. And on that end the prose was singularly remarkable in the use of superfluous words. *see first part of review*
On another note however, I really liked the characters, this hasn’t changed— though mind you— all the men were a little insufferable in that they each, and I do mean each, at one point express that they will take their love interest by force if it comes to that… though of course they don’t WANT to— but like if she does something crazy like say no, they might HAVE to. I don’t really understand why them having this relationship with women, that quite frankly was akin to commodification was necessary, if the guys the MC (and atp I don’t even KNOW if Yala is the MC— that is another problem I had.) didn’t end up with had these sentiments to differentiate themselves from the guy she does I’d understand. However, they were all pretty consistent in believing they had complete utter ownership of her, which is befuddling to say the least.
Before I lose that train of thought, and this is a minor aside, I found it not annoying but misleading that the synopsis of the series on the whole makes Yala seem like a more central figure than she is. Quite frankly with all the POV’s I’d wager she’s 30% of the story, which is rather unfortunate because I quite liked her. I probably would’ve liked her more too if I got more chapters with her 🙂
And if you’re curious about the setting don’t fret, it was given the diligence that any fantasy story is owed. Wholly three-dimensional and feasible. The customs and language seem to sink into your head and establish itself into existence. Which as a reader is exactly what we look for so kudos for that.
3.5 ✨ because it was a little laborious in the middle, but still an engrossing read.
NOW for the promised 20 words that evaded me:
1. Adroitly
2. Succour
3. Internecine
4. Somnolence
5. Importunate
6. Parsimoniousness
7. Salutary
8. Politesse
9. Querulous
10. Remonstrance
11. Sententious
12. Mien
13. Alacrity
14. Effluvia
15. Evinced
16. Diaphanous
17. Intimation
18. Toothsome
19. Putative
20. Ameliorate
** if you know these words don’t be rude and brag, instead pls feign ignorance to spare my pride 🫡
January 2, 2026
An amazing conclusion to the Hostage of the Empire series which I finished over a period of 6 months in 2025. This trilogy would have inspired fanfiction from me, if I were talented enough to write.
The Bloody Throne was indeed very bloody. This third installment goes at breakneck speed compared to the first two in the trilogy - there are schemes, plots and assassinations galore, by different characters with their own motivations. I believe there is a greater variety of POVs in this book, and we get a few chapters written from the perspective of those paid to carry out the assassinations. Up till now, we experience the events in Books 1 and 2 from the perspective of the nobles; with these new POVs we see how these massive political upheavals don't really change much for the common people - it's just another job, just another day in the life.
S.C. Emmett's portrayal of court intrigue is incredible, but I think she might have outdone herself with the battle scenes. So much action, so much detail that sometimes I look up and feel surprised that I'm not standing in the muck, blood and guts of the battlefield alongside the characters. There are several emotional moments during these scenes that hit hard despite the chaos going on in the background; during these moments time seems to stop and we feel the full weight of the character's memories and motivations that sent them there in the first place.
The multiple plotlines spread across Zhaon, Khir, Shan and the Tabrak Horde converge neatly in this book. Emmett has been laying the groundwork for some of the big revelations in the previous books, so the broad strokes are not meant to surprise but rather enjoyed. Still, even the best laid plans are disrupted by chance, and my kindle flew across the room at some points.
The rich world-building and the phenomenal character work complement each other, creating layered, complex characters that act in ways that readers understand in the context of their values, influences and upbringing.
This series is perfection and I cannot recommend it enough. I hope S.C. Emmett returns to this world at some point.
The Bloody Throne was indeed very bloody. This third installment goes at breakneck speed compared to the first two in the trilogy - there are schemes, plots and assassinations galore, by different characters with their own motivations. I believe there is a greater variety of POVs in this book, and we get a few chapters written from the perspective of those paid to carry out the assassinations. Up till now, we experience the events in Books 1 and 2 from the perspective of the nobles; with these new POVs we see how these massive political upheavals don't really change much for the common people - it's just another job, just another day in the life.
S.C. Emmett's portrayal of court intrigue is incredible, but I think she might have outdone herself with the battle scenes. So much action, so much detail that sometimes I look up and feel surprised that I'm not standing in the muck, blood and guts of the battlefield alongside the characters. There are several emotional moments during these scenes that hit hard despite the chaos going on in the background; during these moments time seems to stop and we feel the full weight of the character's memories and motivations that sent them there in the first place.
The multiple plotlines spread across Zhaon, Khir, Shan and the Tabrak Horde converge neatly in this book. Emmett has been laying the groundwork for some of the big revelations in the previous books, so the broad strokes are not meant to surprise but rather enjoyed. Still, even the best laid plans are disrupted by chance, and my kindle flew across the room at some points.
The rich world-building and the phenomenal character work complement each other, creating layered, complex characters that act in ways that readers understand in the context of their values, influences and upbringing.
This series is perfection and I cannot recommend it enough. I hope S.C. Emmett returns to this world at some point.
June 13, 2024
Ooff so, the conclusion. Some of the build up from the previous books paid off very nicely in the finale, but some of it also didn't. I felt like some characters were just killed to tie up lose ends without giving them a proper explanation or character arc to go down this way. Literally, how could careful Makar with all his careful planning suddenly lose his temper and then without protest go to his dead? Also, I really thought him still alive long after that as his body was never found?! And even though I felt like sometimes this story did really well of showing the story of a woman fighting for what is dear to her within the confines for a social position/rights that have been given and taught to her. Other times a lot of other ladies just didn't and just killed themselves without a very strong reason or in order to further the story of one of the princes.
I'm very happy to have found this series, cause it gave me everything I would ask for in a Asian inspired political fantasy when it came to palace intrique. Though I wished some events could have been emphasized more instead of passed by quickly.
The story reads like a palace drama and doesn't simplify or acts as if your dumb. A lot of the world building gets slowly explained to you, but it doesn't feel like an info dumb. The whole text is written in such flowery descriptive words that I couldn't already enjoy it only for that. And it's so visible how much research the author put into the story, I can really respect that.
Though in all this ending felt a bit rushed to me in some ways, the action was also slowed down by suddenly giving me pov chapters of random characters that I didn't really care about.
Also: TAKSHIN WAS DONE SO DIRTY!! Dude definitely deserved more. Especially with all the stuff he said and did for Yala. And I know Yala doesn't owe him any feelings for that, but for me, it didn't feel like Kai was that much better. I feel like Yala had more of a bond with Takshin and their bond was actually build. And Yala and Kais bond was just randomly created even though she was supposed to really hate him for what he did. I also felt like their decision to run away at the end was very sudden and kind of out of character.
Also I really would like to see a sequal surrounding the remaining characters and Takshin and Yala's baby. Cause I feel like there is so much more for these characters left before their story has actually ended.
I'm very happy to have found this series, cause it gave me everything I would ask for in a Asian inspired political fantasy when it came to palace intrique. Though I wished some events could have been emphasized more instead of passed by quickly.
The story reads like a palace drama and doesn't simplify or acts as if your dumb. A lot of the world building gets slowly explained to you, but it doesn't feel like an info dumb. The whole text is written in such flowery descriptive words that I couldn't already enjoy it only for that. And it's so visible how much research the author put into the story, I can really respect that.
Though in all this ending felt a bit rushed to me in some ways, the action was also slowed down by suddenly giving me pov chapters of random characters that I didn't really care about.
Also: TAKSHIN WAS DONE SO DIRTY!! Dude definitely deserved more. Especially with all the stuff he said and did for Yala. And I know Yala doesn't owe him any feelings for that, but for me, it didn't feel like Kai was that much better. I feel like Yala had more of a bond with Takshin and their bond was actually build. And Yala and Kais bond was just randomly created even though she was supposed to really hate him for what he did. I also felt like their decision to run away at the end was very sudden and kind of out of character.
Also I really would like to see a sequal surrounding the remaining characters and Takshin and Yala's baby. Cause I feel like there is so much more for these characters left before their story has actually ended.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 10, 2024
This is the worst book of the series and I was rather disappointed with the end. Every chapter with Yala was just about the exact same.
Same pacing problems as before but amplified now that we are trying to wrap everything up. The pov will cut to someone receiving news that is already old, and them musing what to do about it. And again it will have a lot of small chapters that want to be impactful but really dont matter for the readers suspense or understanding. I dont need to know that someone bought poison from the poison guy, after someone already died of poison. Thanks, I figured that one out on my own somehow. (this example was either in book one or two but it was the best way to explain how the plot REALLY drags on)
You will immediately guess who Yala ends up with in the end, you just might not know how. I thought it would be something sort of honorable, if not death of the other suitor. It wasnt.
Same pacing problems as before but amplified now that we are trying to wrap everything up. The pov will cut to someone receiving news that is already old, and them musing what to do about it. And again it will have a lot of small chapters that want to be impactful but really dont matter for the readers suspense or understanding. I dont need to know that someone bought poison from the poison guy, after someone already died of poison. Thanks, I figured that one out on my own somehow. (this example was either in book one or two but it was the best way to explain how the plot REALLY drags on)
You will immediately guess who Yala ends up with in the end, you just might not know how. I thought it would be something sort of honorable, if not death of the other suitor. It wasnt.
October 22, 2022
The author includes a preface in all three books mimicking that of a translator discussing the difficulty of translating another language into English. It only hit home for me here, that the stilted language (the much reviled headmeat for example) seems to be intended to simulate a bad translation.
A lot of things do happen rather than the holding pattern of the second book. However one of the aspects I found a bit surprising here was Emmett's stubborn refusal to show any of the more dramatic scenes, instead choosing to endlessly defer or elide the most dramatic moments and then instead having people tell other people about it after the fact.
While I appreciated having a broader range of characters, all of the working class characters are extremely simple minded, and while there more characters and perspectives that are explored I am not sure that any of them have the room to really grow. Many characters including a certain prince are simply painted as stupid for no reason and others who are supposed to be super smart and always playing 3D chess 10 moves ahead are just offed "off screen" for no reason. Also did I say that honor was not relevant in this Asian flavored fantasy? I totally was wrong, drowning in more honor than a Klingon poetry slam.
Also really very 1D representation of Mongol/Hun/I don't know. They really seemed just cribbed from Game of Thrones Dothraki rather than any actual nomadic groups.
Many of the most despicable characters die with no buildup or ceremony. I guess that's life, but when the only people dying slowly and horribly with time to think about it are women and/or servants, it really is pretty classist and borders on misogynistic. I did read this trilogy to the end, so I guess it wasn't horrible, but I probably won't be trying anything else
A lot of things do happen rather than the holding pattern of the second book. However one of the aspects I found a bit surprising here was Emmett's stubborn refusal to show any of the more dramatic scenes, instead choosing to endlessly defer or elide the most dramatic moments and then instead having people tell other people about it after the fact.
While I appreciated having a broader range of characters, all of the working class characters are extremely simple minded, and while there more characters and perspectives that are explored I am not sure that any of them have the room to really grow. Many characters including a certain prince are simply painted as stupid for no reason and others who are supposed to be super smart and always playing 3D chess 10 moves ahead are just offed "off screen" for no reason. Also did I say that honor was not relevant in this Asian flavored fantasy? I totally was wrong, drowning in more honor than a Klingon poetry slam.
Also really very 1D representation of Mongol/Hun/I don't know. They really seemed just cribbed from Game of Thrones Dothraki rather than any actual nomadic groups.
Many of the most despicable characters die with no buildup or ceremony. I guess that's life, but when the only people dying slowly and horribly with time to think about it are women and/or servants, it really is pretty classist and borders on misogynistic. I did read this trilogy to the end, so I guess it wasn't horrible, but I probably won't be trying anything else
December 26, 2022
Završnica trilogije "Talac carstva" (ima neki srednjovekovni, prikladniji izraz za ovo, ali ne mogu da se setim) stavlja veoma lepu tačku na sva tri romana. Doduše, možda pre tri tačke, ali treća je skoro pa nevidljiva. Odnosno, ako autorka bude htela, ima prostora da nastavi priču novom trilogijom, smeštenom u potpuno nove uslove i u novoj zemlji ako ne i kontinentu na istom svetu, a može i da stane bez ikakvih problema.
Ova trilogija čita se kao istorijski roman smešten u sekundarni svet, vrlo nalik onome što radi Gaj Gavrijel Kej, samo - usudio bih se reći - daleko poetskije. S. C. Emmett zapravo je pseudonim Lilit Sentkrou, čija sam dela u više navrata pokušavao da čitam, ali uvek bezuspešno - odustajao bih vrlo brzo - iako su mi premise njenih romana bile vrlo intrigantne. Jasno je zašto se opredelila da ovu trilogiju piše pod pseudonimom, pošto je vrlo daleko od njenih uobičajenih uradaka. Takođe je kvalitativno daleko bolja.
Živa je šteta što "Talac carstva" nije primećenija i hajpovanija trilogija, ali reklo bi se da Emet/Sentkrou naprosto nije dovoljno ili uopšte umrežena u aktuelnu uticajnu ekipu, tako da slutim da će ovo veoma lepo štivo završiti u izdavačkom zapećku, što je baš šteta.
Knjige su pisane sporohodnim, ali vrlo melodičnim stilom, karakterizacija je vrhunska, sudbine velikog broja protagonista martinovske. Uglavnom, o ove tri knjige imam da kažem sve najbolje - osim da se čitaju relativno sporo. No, ima knjiga koje naprosto ne mogu da se gutaju u dahu. Kako god da bilo, u mom maleckom ličnom književnom sazvežđu, "Krvavi presto" zaslužuje 5*.
Ova trilogija čita se kao istorijski roman smešten u sekundarni svet, vrlo nalik onome što radi Gaj Gavrijel Kej, samo - usudio bih se reći - daleko poetskije. S. C. Emmett zapravo je pseudonim Lilit Sentkrou, čija sam dela u više navrata pokušavao da čitam, ali uvek bezuspešno - odustajao bih vrlo brzo - iako su mi premise njenih romana bile vrlo intrigantne. Jasno je zašto se opredelila da ovu trilogiju piše pod pseudonimom, pošto je vrlo daleko od njenih uobičajenih uradaka. Takođe je kvalitativno daleko bolja.
Živa je šteta što "Talac carstva" nije primećenija i hajpovanija trilogija, ali reklo bi se da Emet/Sentkrou naprosto nije dovoljno ili uopšte umrežena u aktuelnu uticajnu ekipu, tako da slutim da će ovo veoma lepo štivo završiti u izdavačkom zapećku, što je baš šteta.
Knjige su pisane sporohodnim, ali vrlo melodičnim stilom, karakterizacija je vrhunska, sudbine velikog broja protagonista martinovske. Uglavnom, o ove tri knjige imam da kažem sve najbolje - osim da se čitaju relativno sporo. No, ima knjiga koje naprosto ne mogu da se gutaju u dahu. Kako god da bilo, u mom maleckom ličnom književnom sazvežđu, "Krvavi presto" zaslužuje 5*.
December 8, 2022
You wouldn't expect, judging by the cover, the ornate and perspicacious writing found within the pages of this book. Though the ending left me somewhat unsatisfied (confrontations I was anticipating didn't happen and I felt oddly bereft), and the latter half was overly lengthy with many a superfluous scene, I still think this trilogy is a beautifully written masterpiece in worldbuilding and a must-read.
It took longer than I would've liked to get to the happy ending, and after everything it took to get there, I thought we earned a little more than after the slow burn and exquisitely painful yearning of the first two books. There was a lot of pointless stuffing in between Yala's wedding and Kai's return - just when you think the killing is over, there's more killing - and a lot of added POVs that just didn't do anything for the story. Ultimately, everything that happens kind of make sense, including the fact that Yala discovering what Takshin hid from her never really amounts to anything ().
The meat of this story is in the complex relationships built within a complex culture, the political intrigue. I hope the author writes another series in this world, or at least in this prose style.
It took longer than I would've liked to get to the happy ending, and after everything it took to get there, I thought we earned a little more than after the slow burn and exquisitely painful yearning of the first two books. There was a lot of pointless stuffing in between Yala's wedding and Kai's return - just when you think the killing is over, there's more killing - and a lot of added POVs that just didn't do anything for the story. Ultimately, everything that happens kind of make sense, including the fact that Yala discovering what Takshin hid from her never really amounts to anything ().
The meat of this story is in the complex relationships built within a complex culture, the political intrigue. I hope the author writes another series in this world, or at least in this prose style.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 24, 2022
Sphincters and head meat and lazy writing, oh my.
I love Court intrigue and well-built worlds, so I kept coming back to these. But my enjoyment was marred by the astounding lack of editing.
In this book alone, more than 20 deaths are described in terms of the “sphincter releasing the foul smell of excrement” or similar. Like, seriously, I get it. People poop when they die. The battlefield is filled with the smell of shit. People fear that last indignity. There’s crap everywhere. But it got to the point where I was ready to kill them all and endure it just to get the descriptions to stop.
And let’s talk about head meat. It’s a silly term but acceptable once or twice…but more than 200 times! Come on, just let the poor characters use their brains for once. Think. Cogitate. Consider.
Similarly, liver.
Lots more examples: the great war leader. Even if that’s his title, did it need more than 100 usages? Yala wears yellow silk a lot. Primrose, soft yellow, butter yellow. Apparently she looks “less sallow” in yellow.
Her weapon is green, “bigger than a knife and smaller than a sword.” She is “the new princess.”
Over and over again.
I hope this author learns to use find and replace, and buys a thesaurus, at the very least before the next series. Or maybe an editor? There’s a lot to love here, under all the head meat.
I love Court intrigue and well-built worlds, so I kept coming back to these. But my enjoyment was marred by the astounding lack of editing.
In this book alone, more than 20 deaths are described in terms of the “sphincter releasing the foul smell of excrement” or similar. Like, seriously, I get it. People poop when they die. The battlefield is filled with the smell of shit. People fear that last indignity. There’s crap everywhere. But it got to the point where I was ready to kill them all and endure it just to get the descriptions to stop.
And let’s talk about head meat. It’s a silly term but acceptable once or twice…but more than 200 times! Come on, just let the poor characters use their brains for once. Think. Cogitate. Consider.
Similarly, liver.
Lots more examples: the great war leader. Even if that’s his title, did it need more than 100 usages? Yala wears yellow silk a lot. Primrose, soft yellow, butter yellow. Apparently she looks “less sallow” in yellow.
Her weapon is green, “bigger than a knife and smaller than a sword.” She is “the new princess.”
Over and over again.
I hope this author learns to use find and replace, and buys a thesaurus, at the very least before the next series. Or maybe an editor? There’s a lot to love here, under all the head meat.
January 30, 2022
I received a copy through NetGalley for review.
And was very excited I did as I found the last two books in the series compelling.
In this book and what looks like the final book in this trilogy we see a lot happen.
Of Princess/ Queen Sabwone last act of defiance as the Tabrak took the capital of Shan.
We see the moves of the remaining emperors sons. The outmaneuvering, the quiet savagery.
The brutality of war, of three kingdoms turning on one another initially.
And later reuniting to take on the Horde of Tabrak, as they threaten all.
The final journey of out beloved strong former lady in waiting to a lost princess, Yala. And the two men who love her. In the end, she must choose and follow her true heart.
Of a General who wishes the world was different, a third Prince- sent away as a child sacrifice making his way though reintegration in his own family and learning who to love and trust and who he can never forgive.
This series truly is a great epic.
Showing the strength of even the weakest seeming person in the room, to the weakness and frailty of those presenting themselves as the strongest.
If you have seen this series, and bypassed it, please think about picking it up.
And was very excited I did as I found the last two books in the series compelling.
In this book and what looks like the final book in this trilogy we see a lot happen.
Of Princess/ Queen Sabwone last act of defiance as the Tabrak took the capital of Shan.
We see the moves of the remaining emperors sons. The outmaneuvering, the quiet savagery.
The brutality of war, of three kingdoms turning on one another initially.
And later reuniting to take on the Horde of Tabrak, as they threaten all.
The final journey of out beloved strong former lady in waiting to a lost princess, Yala. And the two men who love her. In the end, she must choose and follow her true heart.
Of a General who wishes the world was different, a third Prince- sent away as a child sacrifice making his way though reintegration in his own family and learning who to love and trust and who he can never forgive.
This series truly is a great epic.
Showing the strength of even the weakest seeming person in the room, to the weakness and frailty of those presenting themselves as the strongest.
If you have seen this series, and bypassed it, please think about picking it up.
April 18, 2023
At the end of The Throne of the Five Winds, Komor Yala's beloved princess Mahara has been assassinated. Feeling honor-bound, Yala vows to find a way to revenge Mahara's death. In the second book of the series, Yala marries Garan Takshin, who in every way, is improved by her marriage to him. If you thought that Yala would find her revenge in the third book of the trilogy, you were wrong. Yala never strikes a blow against those involved in killing her princess. She doesn't even get to confront those individuals with what she knows. She makes much of the fact that "women hear things you may not," but she never actually finds anything out through her connections with other women in the court(528). At the conclusion of the novel, Yala makes a dishonorable decision which is at odds with the woman who practices with her yue "held in the extremity position. Were she menaced with dishonor, this was the last step before turning her wrist and freeing her humors"(494). A better ending would have saved her from dishonor, and perhaps been more satisfying for the readers.
March 20, 2024
Awesome finale to the series. We get several .
March 14, 2024
FINALLY I'M DONE!
It took me forever to finish this book! Not because it's bad, but rather because it made me axious (lol a book gave me axiety), which I guess means the book it's actually good? I mean the author really did a great job of conveying just how high the stakes were. Everytime I opened the book I got a sense that something bad was going to happen and I just had to look away.and something bad did happen to the characters everytime I opened the book, so
As an ending to the trilogy I think this was fantastic. It's biggest downside it's that after all that build-up and foreboding the climax was... kind of anticlimatic. It felt kind of rushed. Also the ending was a little... umm... well it was ok, it just wasn't what I was expecting nor what I wanted to see, I guess.
Anyways, great book!
It took me forever to finish this book! Not because it's bad, but rather because it made me axious (lol a book gave me axiety), which I guess means the book it's actually good? I mean the author really did a great job of conveying just how high the stakes were. Everytime I opened the book I got a sense that something bad was going to happen and I just had to look away.
As an ending to the trilogy I think this was fantastic. It's biggest downside it's that after all that build-up and foreboding the climax was... kind of anticlimatic. It felt kind of rushed. Also the ending was a little... umm... well it was ok, it just wasn't what I was expecting nor what I wanted to see, I guess.
Anyways, great book!
April 20, 2022
Asian Flavored Epic
Fascinating characterization of imperial intrigue and vicious battles. The characters, good and wicked, are drawn with depth and honest realism. Even after reading this final book, I want to know how they're getting along with their lives. This is always a sign of a great book! No magic or monsters, the fantasy is simply an imagined world based lightly off the various asian cultures. Beautiful and detailed! A little romance, tragedy, humor, and action all tossed together for a great read!
Fascinating characterization of imperial intrigue and vicious battles. The characters, good and wicked, are drawn with depth and honest realism. Even after reading this final book, I want to know how they're getting along with their lives. This is always a sign of a great book! No magic or monsters, the fantasy is simply an imagined world based lightly off the various asian cultures. Beautiful and detailed! A little romance, tragedy, humor, and action all tossed together for a great read!
May 2, 2022
I don't think I've ever had such a strange relationship with a series, where I didn't particularly enjoy reading it, saw all kinds of problems in the writing (see my review of the first book) and yet... certain elements or characters kept me intrigued enough to push through.
And in the end, I didn't even get a conclusive answer to my most burning question.
Mediocre. I could have spent the time I spent wading through this monolith of a series on better books, but that's on me.
And in the end, I didn't even get a conclusive answer to my most burning question.
Mediocre. I could have spent the time I spent wading through this monolith of a series on better books, but that's on me.
March 13, 2022
I really liked the first book in the series and the second continued with really good writing. With The Bloody Throne the writing is still pretty good. I just found that I had lost interest in this story. There was all the same elements from the previous books and that's what I got tired of I suppose. There will be many who like this story I think and will enjoy this series.
June 26, 2024
My heart.
At no point could I ever predict what was going to happen next and The Bloody Throne kept subverting my expectations. This was not a perfect novel but having stuck with the series thus far, it was a fitting end. More assassination, political maneuvering, and forbidden love. My heart is still trying to recover.
At no point could I ever predict what was going to happen next and The Bloody Throne kept subverting my expectations. This was not a perfect novel but having stuck with the series thus far, it was a fitting end. More assassination, political maneuvering, and forbidden love. My heart is still trying to recover.
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